Pubdate: Wed, 05 May 2004
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Canada Web)
Copyright: 2004 CBC
Contact: http://www.cbc.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1412
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
MEDICAL MARIJUANA FIGHT HEATING UP
TRAIL, B.C. (CBC)- A disabled man in southeastern B.C. who wants to grow
his own medical marijuana has been granted a hearing by the B.C. Human
Rights Tribunal.
Dennis Lillico suffers from dystonia, a neurological disorder that causes
his limbs to twitch painfully.
The Trail, B.C.man says cannabis is the only drug that offers any relief.
And he wants to grow his own legally - instead of buying it from local dealers.
But doctors are reluctant to give their approval because Lillico is a
recovered alcoholic.
So Lillico has revived a challenge he first launched last year before the
B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.
He accuses the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons of conspiring with
doctors to discriminate against him.
The College says it does not deny individual physicians the right to
prescribe medical marijuana.
But it's also sticking to its position that the therapeutic qualities of
cannabis are unproven.
Lillico says he could probably keep quiet and just grow his own marijuana
with no problems. But says he's decided to take a stand.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom